• olympic rings image by Oleg Ivanov from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  The Olympics takes the world by storm every two years, filling newspapers, televisions and the airwaves with reports on the most spectacular athletes from around the globe, participating in sports that may seem very familiar or completely incomprehensible. Whether you enjoy sports or are an armchair cheerleader, using the Olympics as your next party theme is sure to get you a gold medal in party planning.
  
  

Country Covers

• There are 205 Olympic committees worldwide, including Uzbekistan, Uruguay, the Cook Islands, Palau, Bangladesh and Cape Verde. While not all of these countries send representatives to participate in each Olympic sport, their colorful flags are marched in during the opening ceremonies and can serve as a simple Olympic party craft. Purchase a bulk supply of white or canvas bandannas from a craft store or wholesaler and a collection of paints or dyes. Assign each person in your party as a delegate from a country and them decorate their own bandannas (people can make flags or place mats as well). Some countries, such as the Russian Federation, offer simple art options, as their flag is three horizontal stripes of white, blue and red (similar to France's vertical stripes). Partygoers who want a little bit more of a creative challenge can decorate more complicated flags from countries such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kirbati, Brunei Darussalam and Sri Lanka.
  
  

Terrific Torches

• The original Olympic flame was lit in 1928 at the first games in Amsterdam. Since that day, the symbol of the fiery flames has been carried, literally, through every game. A torch is lit in Greece and makes its way via relay---runners who hand the torch off to each other---all the way to wherever the games are being hosted and into the main stadium during the opening ceremonies. The flame stays lit during the entire Olympics. While guests at your party may never get the opportunity to carry the official Olympic flame, they can make their own torches with just a few household supplies. Provide each party guest with a standard plastic flashlight, stocked with batteries, construction paper in yellow, red and orange, scissors and glue. Guests can cut out flame patterns and glue them around the top of the flashlight, taking care not to glue over where the head unscrews to change the batteries. When the flashlight is turned on, it will cause the construction paper around it to glow. Let guests burn off party energy by creating their own relays after the craft is completed.
  
  

Major Medals

• Just because your party guests may not be pentatheletes or lugers doesn't mean they don't deserve their own medals. Let attendees' egos run free as they make their own Olympic medal crafts at your next party. There are a variety of things that can serve as the actual medal, from a gold-painted foam circle to a white pin-back button covered with tin foil. Make enough "medals" for guests and let them determine just what they've won an award for, such as neatest room or best brownie recipe. Medals are bestowed upon athletes with ribbons, which guests can also make from long strips of fabric, beads or by braiding skeins of yarn. Have guests compete for the most outrageous medal categories; you won't need a prize, as everyone's already a winner.